The 2017 potato crop has had its challenges, especially at harvest time.

There has been heavy rain, which makes it difficult to roll the big harvest machinery and trucks into the fields, and slows the entire process down as the tubers can come from the ground a little muddy.

And when the harvest was rolling along, it got too warm to take them from the ground during the daytime, forcing some growers to shift to nighttime operations.

One of those who dug at night was J.W. Mattek & Sons Farms at Star Neva, and while it was a success to short the risk of putting potatoes into storage too warm, there were other challenges.

It slowed everything down, Josh Mattek explained this morning, as he and his family were inspecting the fields to determine if the operations started later today or Tuesday.

We have between three and one-half and four days to go, Mattek said, adding that it will be a completed without any problems. While chilly temperatures are expected in far northern Wisconsin, conditions here should be just fine.

The Matteks grow seed stock, and quality is of great importance, Josh said the crop this year looks very good.

Of course, members of the family are looking toward the close of the next four days when the giant harvesting equipment is shut down for 2017 and the crop is safely tucked away in the warehouses.

One of the Mattek harvesters working in a field along Highway 52.

Potato harvest moving ahead

The 2017 potato crop has had its challenges, especially at harvest time.

There has been heavy rain, which makes it difficult to roll the big harvest machinery and trucks into the fields, and slows the entire process down as the tubers can come from the ground a little muddy.

And when the harvest was rolling along, it got too warm to take them from the ground during the daytime, forcing some growers to shift to nighttime operations.

One of those who dug at night was J.W. Mattek & Sons Farms at Star Neva, and while it was a success to short the risk of putting potatoes into storage too warm, there were other challenges.

It slowed everything down, Josh Mattek explained this morning, as he and his family were inspecting the fields to determine if the operations started later today or Tuesday.

We have between three and one-half and four days to go, Mattek said, adding that it will be a completed without any problems. While chilly temperatures are expected in far northern Wisconsin, conditions here should be just fine.

The Matteks grow seed stock, and quality is of great importance, Josh said the crop this year looks very good.

Of course, members of the family are looking toward the close of the next four days when the giant harvesting equipment is shut down for 2017 and the crop is safely tucked away in the warehouses.